Supporting-rest for invalids



(No Model.) v I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

*' B. RNIOHOLAS.

SUPBORTING BEST FOR INVALIDS..

No. 374,804. Patented Dec. 13, .1887.

WITNESSES. 75km Err/ac rd (72 .dttomey.

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' B. F. NICHOLAS.

SUPPORTING BEST FOR INVALIDS.

No. 374,804. I f Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

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' NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

BENJAMIN F. NlOHOLAs, OF RENOVO', PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORTING-REST FOR INVALIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,804, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed September 29, 1887. Serial No. 251,049. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. NICHOLAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Renovo, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting-Rests for Invalids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to supporting-rests for invalids of that class adapted to be used on beds; and it has for its object to provide a simply-constructed, easily-operated, and durable device, whereby the rest may be adjusted to and retained at any desired angle; and it consists of the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved rest; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section of the same, and

' Figs. 3 and 4 detail views.

Similar letters refer to similar pal ts throughout the several views.

A represents the side pieces of my improved rest connected together at their rear ends by a square cross-piece, B, and at their front by a round cross -piece, 0. Both of these crosspieces are let into the side pieces in any desired manner, so as to form a solid frame, and the cross-piece G is let into the side pieces a sufficient distance from their front ends to permit the bagging or sagging of the textile material D, forming the back of the adjustable frame, without the material coming in contact with said cross-piece C. At the front ends of the side pieces A bolts or trunnions a are inserted, and to these the arms E of the adjustable frame are pivoted.

To prevent the disagreeable noise made by two pieces of wood rubbing against each other I place two metallic washers, c, on the trunnions a between the arms E and the side pieces A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that they will work against each other and the arms and side pieces. The arms E are joined together near their upper ends by a cross-piece, F, located a slight distance belowthe ends of the arms, and to this cross-piece and the edges of the arms E-the. textile material D is secured in any desired manner, extending down the arms nearly to their lower ends. The rear edges of the arms E are notched, as at b, and that portion of them which extends above the cross-piece F is also notched, as at b.

A bar, m, is secured in the side pieces A at asuitable point, and on its ends the lower ends of levers G are pivoted. These levers have their free ends inclined and covered with any suitable sheet metal, 0, and said ends are connected by a cross-bar, d, so that the two levers may be moved in unison. A handle,f, is rigidly attached to one of'the levers for moving the same. The inclined ends of the levers are adapted to fit the notches b in the arms E and thus support said arms at any desired angle, the angle being changed by merely moving the handlefup or down and thus moving the levers from one notch to another. The sheet metal 0 on the levers G prevents the screeching noise attendant the friction of one piece of wood on another.

To the textile material D, near the upper end of the adjustable frame on the rear side, I secure the ends of two straps, H, of any suitable soft material, to which buckles g are attached, the other ends of the straps being intended to be secured by the buckles after passing around'a pillow, as shown in Fig. 2, thus supporting the pillow at any desired height on the adjustable frame. The notches b are intended to receive the loops of a pad or pillow to support the same when it is not desired to use the straps, and it may be used to hang a covering, such as a blanket, down over the person using the rest by attaching loops inserted. The opposite ends of the side pieces are connected by a bar, 0, and to the ends of this bar legs p are pivoted. Apiece of textile material, r, having its endssewed to its body,

so as to'leave a loop at each end, is slipped on the pieces K, and is adjustable or movable back and forth thereon.

To the rear cross-piece, B, I secure a collar, M, through which a bar, N, slides. The bar N is provided with a cross-piece on one end, to which any suitable soft material is secured to form a cushion or buffer, P. The collar M is provided with two end collars, IR, having their openings at right angles to the opening in collar M, so that they may be slid on the cross-piece B, and the collar M is provided with ascrew-threaded perforation in its upper portion, through which a thumb-screw, S, is passed to jam the bar N in place. The collar M and its parts R are cast in one piece.

In use the rest is placed on the bed and the bar N slid back until the buffer P comes in contact with the head of the bed, which will prevent the rest from being forced backward by the body of the person using the same. The arms E are then adjusted to the proper angle and the person placed against the textile material D. If it is desired to read or eat,

the table or platform is fitted to the sockets L and the legsp set on the bed, thus presenting a table for the person using the same.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, in a supporting-rest for invalids, of the side pieces A, the cross-pieces connecting said side pieces together, the collar M, attached to one of said cross-pieces, the bar passing through said collar, the thumbscrew for jamming said bar, the levers pivoted to the side pieces, the pivoted notched arms, the cross-piece F, and suitable textile mate rial attached to said arms, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, in a supporting-rest for invalids, of the side pieces A,rigidly connected together, the levers pivoted thereto and having inclined 'metalcovered ends, the notched arms rigidly connected together and pivoted to said side pieces, the washers interposed between said arms and the side pieces, the textile material secured to said arms, the straps secured to said textile material, the buckles secured to said straps, the tapering sockets u BENJAMIN F. NICHOLAS. Witnesses:

WM. H. SCOTT, CHARLES A. HAVERSTICK. 

